Before dawn in the summer 1864 at Point Lookout, Maryland a violent tornado visited the Point Lookout prison. Those who were there would probably never forget the experience. The tornado lifted a Union steamboat in the bay into the air and completely demolished the guard house. Rifles of the guards were tossed into the vortex with some never found again. The dead house was also totally destroyed as well as the sutlers store. The witnesses noted the tornado lasted about ten minutes and several Yankee guards were tossed around like rag dolls.